Chapter 12: Spiritual Leadership Examples from the Book of Acts

By Dr. Steve Davis

The first acts of spiritual leadership in the Book of Acts are found in Acts 1:15-26. The Apostles recognized the need for spiritual leadership and made it a priority to fill the gap left by Judas Iscariot. The whole issue of Judas Iscariot was a factor in spiritual leadership. There will always be those who seem otherwise qualified but lack the godly character of the true spiritual leader. They want to use the position in the ministry or church as a position of personal benefit. And, like Judas, their inner lack of consecration will always show itself in a destructive and divisive way.

In Acts 1:21-22 Peter set forth the qualifications for a person to fulfill the vacant position. He and the other Apostles recognized that two men among them met these qualifications. Then, they went to prayer, asking God to reveal which of these two men had the heart for spiritual leadership.

Once the foundation of the church and ministry was set in order, the Holy Spirit was poured out (Acts 2). Then, by Acts 6, a new need came up. Acts 6:1 "...in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration."

When the church grew, murmuring and complaining came along. The Believers accused the leadership of discrimination; of playing favorites. "A house divided against itself shall not stand" (Mat. 12:25). Murmuring can destroy any ministry, no matter how brilliantly operated, not matter how wise and anointed of God the leadership is.

The Apostles knew that their primary responsibility was to give themselves to the ministry of the Word and to prayer. If they were going to be obedient to the Lord, they would have to free themselves from the details of the day to day administrations. God had already set His priority. The Word of God and prayer was the priority for the Apostles. The secondary activities would have to be handled by other Believers who were trusted both by the Apostles and by the
people. If the Apostles didn't handle this first major problem in the church well, they would lose the confidence of the people and would cause further divisions in the body of Believers.

Acts 6:2 "Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, it is not reason that we should leave the Word of God and serve tables." We shouldn't be going around taking care of all the little disputes and arguing about which widows are not getting enough flood. We need to give ourselves to the Word of God. (V. 3) Wherefore brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business."

Honest report means people who have a clear reputation for being honest, ethical, just, fair and consistent; people who speak and live under the authority of the Word of God. The congregation was to choose out from among themselves seven men of honest report; who spoke what the Word of God says and who would not compromise the truth of the Scriptures. Churches need leaders who are knowledgeable of the Scriptures and are able to say "It is written" when they make their decisions.

The position of deacon is to be filled with people who are currently full of the Holy Spirit. Having been filled at one time doesn't mean that a person is filled today. These are to be people
who ARE full of the Holy Spirit. That may mean one thing in some church circles and another thing in others, but still, leadership must be full of the Holy Spirit. Deacons are to be people of wisdom. People like this stand out. They are people of integrity, joy, strength, wisdom, honesty and they love the people of God. That's why the Apostles were able to tell the people to notice the ones among themselves whom God was raising up. The apostles and prophets were probably already aware of who the individuals were. The deacons were not in the position until they were appointed by the elders. The choosing out didn't consummate the position, the appointment did.

Deacons are a double gift to the Body of Christ. First, they are a gift to the Minister and Elders. They enable the Minister and Elders to devote themselves more fully to the Word of God and to prayer. Secondly, Deacons are a gift to the people. They are involved in the day to day practical help where the entire church benefits.

An Old Testament rough equivalent to the Deacon would be the Levite. When you read the responsibilities of the Levite, you recognize the office. The Deacon helps the Apostles, the Elders. The Levite helped the Priesthood. The Deacon was chosen from among the people and presented to the Lord, who in turn presented them to help the Elders in the work of the ministry. The Levite was given to the Lord by the congregation, and the Lord gave the Levites to the priesthood to assist in service in the Tabernacle.

In the Book of Numbers, some of the responsibilities of the Levites are listed. Helping with the vessels of the tabernacle and when the tabernacle is set down or pitched again, the Levites carried the responsibility. (Numbers 1:50-51); In that sense they were "Buildings and Grounds"
people. They were responsible to 'keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congre-gation" and to do the service or maintenance of the tabernacle (Numbers 3:8; 25, 26; 31;36; 37). Levites were presented to the Priests as helpers (Numbers 3:9).

The job of the Levite, then was first off, "hands on" type of work. Helping with vessels, tables, building maintenance and repair. It was secondarily In personal relationship and assistance to the priest. I Chronicles 23:28 says that their office was to “wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the House of the Lord, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God."  The requirement for Levite was also for spirituality. The Levite had to have a strong personal devotional life... to be a person who walked in prayer. 1 Chronicles 23:30, "And to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at even."

Like the Deacon, the Levite had restrictions on his service and area of authority. The Levite was never allowed to intrude into the office of Priesthood. To intrude into areas that did not pertain to him brought the death penalty. (Numbers 18:3) In the New Testament, Deacons assist in the service, upkeep and maintenance of the service of the church. They are helpers to the Ministry, and enable the people to benefit from spiritual leadership that is not overburdened and worn out from serving. We need to see the magnitude of this office, that it is not a nine to five office job.

Two of these first Deacons, as they were found trustworthy were promoted by God into Eldership, or were made what we would call Elders. Were they promoted by popular vote? No. They were promoted as they were serving faithfully. Psalms 75:6 7, "For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor the west, nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He putteth down one and setteth up another." Other people cannot create a leader out of a non leader. The votes of other people cannot gift a person with abilities that God hasn't given them. And, a person cannot expect God to give a harvest where he or she hasn't planted one. A person has to sow the seeds of promotion from the Lord. God is the judge. He evaluates what a person is doing, their level of integrity, commitment, faithfulness and obedience. And, based on that, He puts one person down and raises up the level of another. A leader is a person who is planting seeds with God that will cause that person to be one that He raises up.

Acts 6:6 "Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, (after they had sought God and were directed by the Holy Spirit) they laid their hands on them. And the Word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith." A revival broke out because the apostles, prophets and elders gave themselves totally to the Word of God. When these men who were able to spend time in the Word of God, gave themselves to prayer, God began to multiply and move mightily among them. God's plan is to have leadership full of the Holy Spirit, full of wisdom, a people that can pray in unity, intercede and stand in agreement for those in leadership whom God raised up, that they would make the right decisions.

Acts 14:21 "And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch. Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed."  These men went forth, recognized and ordained elders. Once they were ordained, they commended them to the Lord. The apostles had enough confidence to believe the Lord would work in these men's lives and callings.

Then a problem arose. Men from Judea came and began teaching that the Believers had to be circumcised in order to be saved. It caused fear and division in the church. There were differing opinions as to how much of the Old Testament law was binding on the Believer. Acts 15:2 "When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of them, should go up Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question."

The Believers had a problem they couldn't easily solve. There were arguments and divisions among them. So, they asked the Elders, and the Apostle, to get God's answer through OTHER Elders and Apostles. Certain leaders from Antioch went with Paul and Barnabas. They didn't decide to have a congregational vote to determine God's will. They also didn't allow pride and stubbornness to cause them to have a split. They ALL wanted God's will and purpose. They just weren't sure as to what His will was. Notice their hearts.

When Paul, Barnabas and the members of the church from Antioch met at Jerusalem, they found out that others were having the same kinds of arguments. V.5 'But there arose certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed saying that it was needful to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses." Now what? Let them hash it out? Get out the slips of papers and have a secret ballot vote?

Acts 15:6 "...The Apostles and Elders came together for to consider this matter."  Now, the discussion didn't involve even the deacons. Just the Apostles and Elders. Did all the Apostles and Elders have the same opinion? NO! Verse 7 says that they had MUCH disputing. Why? Because they weren't walking in the Spirit? It was because they had different offices and different priorities stood out to different aspects of the ministry. But they KNEW that God had ONE answer for the Body. So, after much discussion (verse 7) Peter stood and reminded the other Apostles and Elders that God had chosen each of them for a specific office with its specific responsibilities.

Peter then gave accounts from his ministry how God had enforced his calling with results in the lives of the Gentiles (v.8 -11). Peter rose up and said, "I went out and laid hands on the Gentiles and God filled them with the Holy Ghost and that's good enough for me." (paraphrased) Acts 15:11 'But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they."

V 12: "Then the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them."  Paul and Barnabas spoke about events in their ministry, in a whole different realm, with a whole different type of people. And here God was, healing, saving and delivering the Gentiles, without the Jewish ritual of circumcision. So, what place did circumcision have in whether or not God would accept the
Gentiles?

This was an important doctrinal decision. The whole church was seated and listening as the elders discussed it back and forth. They were not the ones considering it; the elders and apostles were. Yet, they were there, listening. It was an area that affected the people and they needed to be there and understand how godly decision making is accomplished.

Finally, the Elder who was the host at that meeting, James, summarized the meeting, gave scriptural principles, and made a judgment based on their experiences in God, the principles from Scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit (v 13, 21, 28).

(v.13) "And after they had held theft peace, James answered saying, Men and
brethren, hearken unto me: Simeon has declared how God at the first did visit the
Gentiles, to take out of them a people for His Name. And to this agree the words of
the prophet.” The Word of God makes the final decision. (v.19) "Wherefore my
sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to
God. But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and
from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood" (v.22) "Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch... And they wrote letters by them after this manner The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia."

Notice this: That, even though they had disputed and had disagreed with each other initially, they all became obedient to the Word of God, once they understood what God was saying to them. Next, notice that the disputing and arguing never left the meeting of the Elders and the Apostles. V.25 "It seemed good to us, being assembled in one accord..." They didn't talk about the disagreements to the other Believers. They didn’t take sides against other leaders or say anything to demean the other leaders. They told how it came about because they brought their understanding up to the level of the Word of God, rather than bringing the Word of God down to the level of their understanding.

(v.28) "For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us..." THE HOLY SPIRIT ALWAYS AGREES WITH THE WORD OF GOD. James was the home elder of Jerusalem where the meeting was taking place. He was responsible for that Body that was gathering together locally there in Jerusalem. He was equal in position with Paul and Barnabas. He was not greater than they were. He was the one who spoke the decree that the Holy Spirit had already made because he was the home Elder. James wasn't the boss of the church. He was the overseer of that local Body and so, it was his position to speak forth the declaration to those who were gathered at that time. The witness was Biblical, it was a witness to their spirits from the Holy Spirit and they then declared it to the Apostles. What he delivered, the other Apostles and Elders gladly received and carried out, because it was the Word of God.

These Elders then put Into writing what they had received and selected other elders to relay these messages. The discussion and the decision making were not done by the newest believers or the most vocal members of any of the congregations. It was done by the Apostles and Elders. Who chose the ones to deliver the messages? The Apostles and Elders. Paul and Barnabas were chosen to bring the written report (v25) Judas and Silas were chosen to present spoken reports of the meeting (v.27).


When the four men reached Antioch, Paul and Barnabas read the epistle (v.30). Then, "Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words and confirmed them" (v.32). Apparently, Paul was more gifted as a writer than a speaker (1 Corinthians 2:1), so he was used for the area of the written word.

'And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees (made by the Holy Spirit) for to keep that were ordained of the Apostles and Elders which were of Jerusalem and so the churches were established in the faith, and increased in number daily."  Elders passed the decrees down, and also had to keep those same decrees. What was the result? The churches became established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

How was the new information communicated? It was brought to ALL the people in
the gathering of Believers. It wasn't just passed casually by word of mouth. v.30:
"... and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle. "

Could the Apostle Paul handle the pastorate of a local church by himself? Look what God provided for the church at Antioch: Acts 15:33 34: "...it pleased Silas to abide there still. Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the Word of the Lord, with many others also." Plurality, or more than one leader. Silas, Paul, Barnabas and many others also. That is God's plan. Many who were faithful, mature and being raised up by God in response to their drawing near to Him.

The only way for the work of God to go forth is for many to respond to the dealings of God; For many to move up through being Deacons and into ministering the Word and teaching. This is what enables the moving of the Holy Spirit in power and might. It enables the new believers to be brought into the Kingdom and nourished.

Being in Leadership calls for more denial of self than does just being a Believer. Here Paul and Silas were, delivering the news that God doesn't require Gentile Believers to be circumcised. So, they picked up Timothy at Lystra, who had tremendous leadership potential. Acts 16:1 2. What' was the first thing Timothy had to do, in order to enter Leadership training? Get circumcised! Acts16:3 "Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took him and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they all knew that his father was a Greek."

Why did Timothy have to do the very thing that they were telling other Believers they DIDN'T have to do? Higher callings require higher sacrifices. It wasn't for God. It was to be able to go places to reach people for God. It was so that Timothy would be able to go into the Temple and bring the Word to the Jews. Being half Jewish he could go into the Temple, but only if he was circumcised. If that's what it takes to minister to people, to reach people, then that's what' God requires. Leadership is about making a commitment, being a role model and paying the price, for as long as it takes.

Acts 16:4 5 "And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees
for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.
And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily."
Two times the Holy Spirit decreed how to operate and both times after the declaration the church grew. The Body of Christ today could have phenomenal growth, like it did then, if we would operate as they did. Then God could trust us with the flock of God. We are to take heed and to prepare ourselves for the ministry for the flock of God over which the Holy Ghost has made us overseers. It's the Holy Spirit and nothing else that sets up true Biblical elders in ministries to prepare for the flock of God.

Plans change at the drop of a hat when you're in spiritual leadership. We like to make plans and programs to stay in our comfort zones and to make things flow smoothly. Look at Acts 17:14. Paul, Silas and Timotheus were at the church in Berea. Jews who were out for trouble came down from Thessalonica and the brethren sent Paul away, IMMEDIATELY. His plans changed just like that. Silas and Timotheus stayed there at Antioch. Paul went on to Athens. Then what? Paul got the leading of the Spirit to have Silas and Timotheus to come to him at Athens
IMMEDIATELY. So, the people who brought Paul to Athens turned around and went to get Silas and Timotheus. Notice the level of flexibility that’s required to walk in Spiritual Leadership! A leader has to be ready to obey God. Of course, Paul waited for Silas and Timotheus in Athens right? Wrong!

Acts 18:1 Paul moved on to Corinth and moved in with Acquilla and his wife Priscilla. Each week, he went to the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. But he waited until Silas and Timothy got there, from Macedonia, to bring out the Gospel in full power. Another point of spiritual leadership: A leader needs the back-up of his fellow Elders, ministers and leaders. Even Paul knew where to draw the lines when he was alone.

Acts 18:24 28 Apollos was a man mighty in the Scriptures, but he needed more teaching. Acquilla AND Priscilla were used of God to teach him the Word. Then, he was able to show BY THE SCRIPTURES that Jesus was the Christ.

Acts 20:7 9 Paul was "long preaching" that night, until Eutychus fell asleep and fell out the third floor window. They went down, revived him and Paul went back up and started preaching again... until dawn!

Acts 20:11 "And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, 'Ye know from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, sewing the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews.”

He begins to unfold to them, and testily to them the work that God had called them to do. (V. 22) “And now; behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things
that shall befall me there." (V.28) "Take heed (the elders) therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he has purchased with His own blood."

God speaks to the Elder, or Apostle. He then brings the word and direction to the rest of the leadership. The word is to take heed to themselves, AND to ALL the flock (that's the reason for the Deacons, so all the flock is taken care of). It's the Holy Spirit Who has made them overseers and to the Holy Spirit they must answer and give account. Their main task is to take heed to themselves and to the flock, that they may be able to adequately FEED the flock God's Word, knowing that the flock means enough to God that He purchased it with His own blood.
 

Copyright Steven L. Davis  www.stevedavis.org